Day 25: Toronto to Gananoque, Thousand Islands

While we were planning our Canadian expedition, Dan happened to watch a documentary on the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence River. By studying Google maps, I figured out that we could drive to Gananoque from Toronto and take the cruise in the same day. It worked out perfectly. We got there in time to get our tickets and grab a light lunch before embarking. The weather was very pleasant; the sky was blue; there were picturesque clouds; the wind came and went, and much of the time even we wimps could brave the top deck.

You don't know the real Dan unless you have traveled with him extensively and seen him in his stride. On the cruise of the Thousand Islands he was like a tiger, restlessly prowling around the boat, looking for the best views and the best light. While others, like me, were bundled up and huddled in the middle of the deck, he stood at the prow of the boat in tee-shirt and shorts, with only a knit cap to protect him from the buffeting wind. And he got some good shots, despite the constant motion of wind and water; moreover, he listened to the recorded narration closely enough to know what he shot.

The recorded tour told about famous figures in the history of the area and famous shipwrecks. I didn't really get any of that. I shifted about the boat trying to find a place I could steady myself enough to take movies with the iPad. The iPad is absolutely the worst kind of camera for a boat cruise because being shaped like a magazine it receives the wind like a sail—the worst aerodynamics. I held onto that baby for dear life. I tried to brace myself against a railing or post, or to rest the iPad on the railing, which seemed steadier.

At the Helm

There are actually about 1800 islands, not counting rocky outcroppings too small to land on. Some islands are occupied by a single fancy estate. At least one had a large RV park. Some islands had one modest but inviting cabin and boat launch. Wouldn't it be strange to own your own island and come and go by boat? Unique but terribly inconvenient.

Section of the St. Lawrence River covered by our cruise

It was very soothing to see the deep emerald blue of the lake-like seaway constantly rippling and gleaming, the dark greens of the low bushy trees on the islands, the seagulls catching a lift on the boat's airstream.

Our Holiday Inn Express here in Gananoque is very nice, which is soothing after an exciting day. I managed to do a load of wash at the very convenient guest laundry. The motel doesn't have a restaurant, but it is located in a cluster of medium-size motels, and the Best Western next door has a pretty good little café, where Dan had a steak with shrimp, and I had a small salad.